Faber scoops Lord of the Flies graphic novel illustrated by De Jongh

Faber is to bring out the first graphic novel adaptation of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, illustrated by Dutch artist Aimée de Jongh.

Publishing director Angus Cargill commissioned UK, Commonwealth and translation rights directly with de Jongh and William Golding Limited. First published by Faber in 1954, Golding’s classic has sold millions of copies worldwide, been translated into 44 languages, and adapted into three films and numerous stage versions. 

Cargill said: "Lord of the Flies is one of the jewels of the Faber fiction list, a timeless and beloved modern classic, so it was crucial to get someone whose visual aesthetic, skill and imagination could bring something new to the story. A long-talked-about project in my time at Faber, I’m absolutely thrilled to finally see it come together."

De Jongh is an animator, comics artist and illustrator whose debut graphic novel,The Return of the Honey Buzzard (SelfMadeHero), won the Prix Saint-Michel. Her most recent work, Days of Sand (SelfMadeHero), was a Guardian Best Comic & Graphic Novel of 2022.

She added: "No book has had such a profound impact on me as Lord of the Flies, William Golding’s vision of a society where law and the police are absent. As an artist, it was always the visual aspect of the story that intrigued me. My aim is to treat the work with the respect and admiration I’ve always had for it. Most of all, through the graphic novel format, I hope to introduce new readers to this literary masterpiece, which in all these years has never lost its significance."

Golding’s daughter, Judy Golding Carver, commented: "Aimée de Jongh is the ideal visual interpreter: a committed, superbly talented draughtswoman with a deep understanding of the novel and a determination to convey its special power. 

"Aimee’s developing vision of Lord of the Flies brings to life its island landscapes, both idyllic and violent, with the boys as individuals; it crystallises their emotions and fears. She is the illustrator the novel has been waiting for."